Reuters Sports News Summary

The 24-year-old Briton led seven times world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton one-two at the chequered flag at Interlagos after also winning the Saturday sprint and setting the fastest lap. Soccer-Yedlin the only link to U.S. World Cup past As the only player on the United States roster with any World Cup experience DeAndre Yedlin has been a man in demand around the American locker room as the team prepare to take on Wales in their tournament opener.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Brittney Griner taken to penal colony in Russia's Mordovia region - lawyers

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been taken to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia, her lawyers said in a statement on Thursday. Reuters had earlier reported the transfer, citing a source familiar with the case. In August, Griner was sentenced to nine years on drugs charges following her arrest at a Moscow airport with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.

Soccer-Ronaldo very optimistic about Portugal's World Cup chances

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes his country has an excellent group of players and they are capable of doing well in the World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo said he had dreamt of wining the World Cup, but knows it will be extremely difficult to lift the trophy with teams like France, Spain, Argentina, Germany and Brazil to face.

Baseball-Ohtani says he wants to play in 2023 World Baseball Classic

Two-way standout Shohei Ohtani of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels said on Thursday he wants to play for Team Japan at next year's World Baseball Classic. Ohtani took to Instagram to say he has contacted Team Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama of his desire to play in the tournament for the first time in his career.

Tennis-Nadal excited about Australian Open title defence

Rafa Nadal ended his season on a high on Thursday after a difficult few months and said he was excited about the prospect of defending his Australian Open crown in January. The 36-year-old produced some vintage tennis to beat Casper Ruud 7-5 7-5 in his final group match at the ATP Finals and while it came too late to save him, he was happy with his level.

Soccer-Infantino to serve another four-year term as FIFA President

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will serve another four-year term at the helm of world soccer’s governing body after emerging as the only candidate for the next election in March. Infantino, who has received widespread backing from confederations and national associations, was the only name submitted by the Wednesday deadline, FIFA said on Thursday.

Soccer-Davies on way to join Canada at World Cup

Alphonso Davies is on his way to Qatar to join his Canada team mates for the World Cup, coach John Herdman said on Thursday, but may not be fit to play in the team's opener against Belgium. Davies, Canada's most dynamic player, has been recovering from a hamstring strain he sustained in early November playing for Bayern Munich.

Tennis-Fritz reaches semis, Nadal signs off with win in Turin

American Taylor Fritz outlasted Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets and Rafa Nadal avoided matching his worst ever losing sequence with a 7-5 7-5 victory over Norway's Casper Ruud in round-robin play at the ATP Finals on Thursday. In a clash of tournament debutantes neither Fritz nor Auger-Aliassime could make inroads on the other's serve but in the first set tiebreaker, the Canadian's normally solid backhand began to misfire and a forehand error put Fritz out ahead.

Motor racing-Russell says morale at Mercedes booming after Brazil win

Morale at Mercedes is booming after the team's first win of the Formula One season in Brazil last weekend and they will be going for it again in the finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, George Russell said. The 24-year-old Briton led seven times world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton one-two at the chequered flag at Interlagos after also winning the Saturday sprint and setting the fastest lap.

Soccer-Yedlin the only link to U.S. World Cup past

As the only player on the United States roster with any World Cup experience DeAndre Yedlin has been a man in demand around the American locker room as the team prepare to take on Wales in their tournament opener. With the U.S. having failed to qualify for the 2018 showcase tournament in Russia coach Gregg Berhalter did not have a large pool of experience to dip into.

Boxing-Alvarez says he is on track for May return after wrist surgery

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez said he was on schedule to return to the ring in May following surgery on a left wrist injury, the undisputed super middleweight champion said. The Mexican beat Gennadiy Golovkin for the second time to complete their trilogy of bouts in September -- after which he said he needed surgery -- and could seek a rematch with WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, to whom he lost in May.